BACK HOME FOR SOME SUMMER

The journey home went incredibly smoothly after the threat of an Aer Lingus strike receded. Yes, the news from last weekend was not what I wanted to hear. But fortunately the bus, flight, bus, and train to Plzen, were timed as if they'd been planned for minimum waiting times. 
The temperatures in Ireland are still unseasonaly cold which makes me feel happy to be back as the summer here begins to take off. 
However, I have put together this short movie of some of the music, and dancing, I experienced on the trip. The lighting was pretty poor in most of the venues but the sound is unaffected. Enjoy

The Rainy Days

Today, my last till I fly home, has been wet. Spent the day diving for cover almost every ten minutes, with a long respite in the Guinness storehouse. After a quick look at my finances I decided to join the hoards at the brewery. 

The gentle art of Guinness pouring

The Guinness nightclub

This Disneyland experience was not quite what I thought a historical brew should have been exhibited as, but I suppose it appeals to the onslaught of American tourists. Not being a great fan of the this world famous stout, I gave my free pint ticket to an elderly gentleman who was, quite obviously, enjoying his freeby in the Gravity Bar at the top of this 6 storey Guinness extravaganza.  

One of the most memorable ads

The most interesting part for me was a small area of wall covered with historic Guinness ads like the one on the left from the mid 50's. 
Leaving the building, on the ground floor, you pass through something like the combination of a hall of mirrors and a slinky disco. Lots of screens with bubbly beery liquids. 
Anyway, yesterday was much better for a ramble around town.  At one point I passed the front gardens of a couple of cottages, one of which was piled high with supersized potted plants, completely blocking the path to the front door of a house that looked like it had been deserted long ago. The other garden was filled by an overgrown wreck of a car with a turf roof. As with the place next door, it was also in front of a derelict cottage.

An overgrown rusting relic

Also, yesterday, I went to prison. To be exact, to Kilmainham Gaol which has now been restored as a museum and a memorial to all the Irishmen and women who fought for independence down the centuries. This place is specially poignant because it was here that the leaders of the 1916 Easter uprising were executed, and various others too. In the 19th century it held prisoners awaiting transportation to Australia whose only crime, often, was poverty. 

Kilmainham Prison

A room with a kind of view

The execution yard

The last prisoners held here were the future leaders of the Irish Free State (1922) and the the prison was closed to guests by 1924. Many years later, a group of volunteers decided to renovate this historical residence as a memorial.

Irish war memorial gardens. Lizy and Obama were here a few weeks ago.

some of the many bridges over the River Liffey

A bridge made in Britain in 1838

As you can see, today was not the best of days. Another large black one is  on its  way to dump a bit more water on Dublin. The most famous Ha'penny Bridge still takes Dubliners across the River Liffey from one pub to another.
I am sure the weather will be better in the Czech Republic when I get back tomorrow afternoon.

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Dublin Revisited

Took the train from Wexford to Dublin where I found the hostel I stayed in 2 weeks ago. The train was a welcome change from the busses that I have been using to date.  Yesterday, in Wexford, wasn't so sunny as previous days have been been but still ok for a long walk along the shore. I had intentions to see a popular beach which was in fact a bit too far away given the amount of time I had. 

An odd Dubai looking breakwater with Wexford in background

Wexford quayside and church and crane

stopped project

Wexford is not immune to the dramatic decline of the Celtic Tiger. A crane stands motionless, as it has for 2 years now, only just dwarfed by the nearby church. The bankrupt development company, McNamara, has 3 other identical  sights that I have seen where a redundant crane has been left to blight the landscape for an unknown time. 

Not too sure about the details, but I heard that the owner of the company is now doing well in America. Doing what? The situation has left many thousands of properties abandoned and people who 'will never do that again'. 

I think it means 'Whatever happened its not our fault'

The evening on the quay

Music in the Maggy May in Wexford

Unlike the previous night I managed to find a pub where there was music. Its a bank holiday weekend so I expect the place was fuller that it usually is and the IRA songs were coming thick and fast. For most the troubles have ended but there will always be the few to stir up old memories. Great evening before leaving for Dublin.

Waterford to Wexford

From Cork, the bus passes through Waterford, to Wexford. So now at the penultimate port of call. Had to wait a couple of hours in Waterford and so looked around the town. 

Waterford waterfront

This is a bank holiday weekend in Ireland so there were a lot of people out and about enjoying the summer weather. Of course this hot spell wont last, in fact the cold wind is back again bringing down the temperature to the levels before the all too short Irish summer. 

Ireland has lots of pubs with interesting names. Come to think of it, there are a lot of pubs here.

Hurling trophy stall in Waterford. The game of hurling is a specialty of this part of the world. Its a game were all the players have to wear helmets and face protectors. Something similar  to hockey except its not against the rules to wack the ball above headheight. 

I finally managed to get into the hostel in Wexford at 5pm after a couple of hours of waiting in the town. Hopefully there will be some Irish music somewhere. This town is where there was one of those rebellions that took place 200 years ago. 

John Kelly

As soon as I saw this statue I knew it must be John Kelly, the Boy from Killanne. The pike he's holding is a dead give away if you happen to know the words of the rebel song about the battle at Wexford and Ross. Kelly came to a very grizzly end at the hands of the British soldiers. That was nothing unusual. 
But the gold sun of Freedom
Grew darkened at Ross,
And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
And poor Wexford, stript naked,
hung high on a cross,
And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
Glory O! Glory O!
To her brave sons who died
For the cause of long-down-trodden man!
Glory O! to Mount Leinster's
Own darling and pride

Dauntless Kelly, the Boy from Killanne.

I was rather hoping to find a pub with some music this very evening but unfortunately with the bad information, directions, names etc, I had to give up the quest. It was similar this afternoon when I asked the way to Mary Street, where the hostel is. I followed the instructions to the letter and found myself in Anne Street. Unbeknown to myself, and certainly the helpful but sadly confused gentleman, Mary St was in fact only a few metres from the spot where he gave those invaluable directions. It seems that Irish people are not very good at 'particulars'. 

I have caught some tantalizing glimpses like this around the town so hopefully I 'll be able to find out what lies behind the rooftops. 

A Day Missed

Unfortunately, arrived in Cork yesterday morning and was unable to get a wifi connection. Let's hope this connection doesn't fade. 

Cork is a city of rivers and bridges it seems. Naturally it has its fair share of churches and cathedrals. I wonder if church attendance has increased, or has it dropped since the catastrophic fall of the Tiger? However, above the doors of Finn Barr's church there are many trades depicted. I think the one on the left gives a good idea as to what the Irish excelled at in the past under their English masters. 
Just a stone's throw from the hostel is the Cork College University, founded around 150 years ago. The great hall (Aula) is lined with many of the old text books used about 100 years ago. 

The Aula. Cork University

Its a fantastically sunny day today. Listening to the radio here in the hostel, the presenter was very upbeat about the next few days but finished with the fact that its back to normal next week. Thanks mate. 
So, made my way to the world famous Blarney Castle on a local bus. Just in case its not a bell ringer for you, its where the Blarney stone is kissed, hanging head down from the top of the castle keep.  

Blarney Castle

Emson has arrived

In Blarney Castle park

The surrounding park is pretty large with perfectly manicured lawns, some very large trees which tend to flourish here in the Irish climate. Come to think of it there are a lot of very tall Irish people too. Visiting these places can be a bit expensive but being a 'senior' I usually get a reduction. Not with price of cigarettes though. 9 euros a pack!!!. Glad I bought a good supply at Prague airport. 

One of the older bridges in Cork

The Last Day in Killarney

The Grand Galway Hotel

Once again I found a music night and managed to get to sing a song. The banjo player on the left, from Scotland could play a mean tune. 

Colourful shops 

Celtic crosses at Muckross Abbey

The Lakes of Killarney

Muckross House

Torc Waterfall

Even though there wasn't so much water, the Torc Falls, just near Muckross House looked quite impressive.

Just to prove I was there

When morning came I decided to hire a bike instead of going out to Dingle on the bus. The day was fine for the most part, finishing up warm and sunny. It seems that this is a really great area if you're interested in biking or walking. A pleasant day out. D

Hills beyond Killarney

Killarney, as you might guess, is the second most popular destination in Ireland. Dublin is the first but maybe thats only because its normally the place where most people make a landfall in Ireland. 

Inside the cathedral here there seems to be a recruiting drive going on for new priests. This might be, for one reason or the other, due to the numbers leaving. I suppose its possible that they dont have much choice in the matter in some cases, thats if the church doesn't bale them out. Looking at the industrial quantity of holy water on tap, it seems there is a lot of soul cleansing going on in this town. I wonder if there's a way of detecting if someone has imbibed over the legal limit. A halo appears - perhaps?

The hills go by the name of 'Macgillycuddy's Reeks'

3 views of Lough Leane

Today I walked along part of the shores of Lough Leane which is, I think, the largest lake by Killarney. Although this place is supposed to be so popular, I have been pleasantly surprised at the low numbers of tourists. This area has many attractions outside the town so there isn't the density you find in other places like Galway. During the hours of walking I saw no more than half a dozen. 

Ross Castle

The roof of the castle above the great hall

This is a bite size castle with a living space of a large house. Went on the guided tour because its only 3 euros for pensioners. Even hire bikes have a reduction for us old buggers. 

Daffodils along the way.

Ireland is renowned for being just a little wet so the foliage is lush, not to mention the huge creeper and moss covered trees. 
Not too sure what to do tomorrow but I have 2 ideas: one to go on a bus to Dingle, and the other to hire a bike and get some exercise. The bike could be the best option after the enormous meal I've just had. D